LOGINAinsley’s POVI’m barely out of the car when Caleb engulfs me in a suffocating hug.“Oh my Goddess, Ains!” He mumbles into my hair. His scent makes my body instantly release the tension I’ve been holding on to and I wrap my arms around him. “I’m fine, Cal.” I whisper while I pat his back, ignoring his stupid rule about his nickname. “It’s all good now.”“Zion is influencing his behavior, Ainsley,” Paragon says. “He hates being alone. Remember, there must be two.”“I’ll tell Mom and Alpha you can’t talk to them today.” He pulls back and looks at me with a mix of concern and desperation.“No, I’ll talk to them. Beckett and I had a long talk. I can stand up for myself. I need to know if anything is going to change for me around here.”“Are you still planning on leaving us?” His tone softens.When did Beckett have time to tell him? It doesn’t matter. My lips tighten into a little smile. I can’t tell if he means leaving him and Zion or the Emerald Canyon pack or something in between. Like
Beckett’s POVBeckett: Ains w. meCaleb: status?Beckett: safe. needs timeCaleb: where u @ Beckett: nah broCaleb: ?Beckett: she doesnt want 2 see any1Caleb: its just meBeckett: back off. txt u latrCaleb: rood. fineI show Ainsley the exchange as we walk toward the pavilion. She shakes her head with a heavy sigh. “He can find me through our connection.”“He won’t.” I motion to her midsection. “Can I convince you to put my shirt on? No offense, but crimson’s not your color and people were staring pretty hard in the play area. If I wasn’t there, they would have called the pack guard.”Ainsley looks down at herself and twists her mouth. “I guess.”I pull my shirt off and face her. “Arms up.”“I can put a shirt on myself, Beckett.” She huffs and throws a lock of hair over her shoulder.“Humor me, Ainsley.” I hold the shirt by the bottom hem. “Please.”She rolls her eyes and raises her arms gingerly, letting me step forward to pull the shirt over her head and down her body. I let my
Beckett’s POV“Candice, hey.” I drop my shoulders and walk towards Dario’s girlfriend who is on a swing, pumping her legs, but not in any sort of rhythm that would help the swing move back and forth.I don’t know who her bright red dress is made for, but even with her petite frame she’s squeezed into it like a sausage in a casing. She’s wearing stripper heels and oversized dark sunglasses with a sheer scarf covering her short dark hair like an old-time movie star. She sticks out in the family friendly environment, but everyone knows who she is, and no one would dare tell Dario’s girlfriend to cover up.“Whatcha doin, Becks?” She stops flailing her legs.“Just looking for a friend who wandered away.” I smile and sit on the swing next to her, facing the other direction so I can keep an eye on the pavilion. “I’m a little worried about her.”“Like when I used to wander away?” Her crystal blue eyes look worried at the thought. “Want me to help you find her?”“Wait. Are you here by yourself
Beckett’s POV“Ran away? Why would she do that?” I juggle my phone in my hands as I take off my apron and rush out of the kitchen, ignoring the dirty looks of the rest of the staff.“Please, just go find her, Beckett. She has her phone, but she’s not answering.” Alpha Lucas begs. “She wouldn’t even answer Caleb’s call, so he’s on his way into town too.”“Beta Scion Beckett. You just missed the Alpha Scion.” The valet bows to me.“Yeah, I know, Lou.” I give him a fist bump. “I have to meet up with him. I’m kinda in a hurry.”“Of course, Sir.” He puts on his glasses to look at his notebook.Lou was a warrior in his heyday. Unfortunately, spending that much time shifting in and out of wolf form takes its toll. There’s only so many times you can let your bones and joints break before they can’t do it anymore. Lou found out what that limit is. He would never recover if he tried to shift again. Poor guy. He’s as slow as frozen molasses, but he’s reliable and most importantly, he never snitc
Ainsley’s POVI brace for impact from either the Alpha’s razor sharp claws slicing me to ribbons or being crushed like a tomato between the SUV and the guardrail. My right hand tightens on the handlebar, fighting to keep the bike straight. My left hand seems to have a mind of its own. I watch it strain to reach toward the open window instead of the handlebar.When did my fingernails turn into claws? I didn’t feel it.“Slow down at my order!” Paragon yells over the roar of the engines.“Are you controlling my hand?” I watch in awe, almost forgetting we could literally die any second.“Yes, Ainsley.” She groans as she reaches forward. “Now focus!”As Alpha Dan brings his heavy hand down toward me my hand catches him by the wrist and clamps down. Tiny crimson beads form where my claws dig into his skin.“What are you doing, you stupid little bitch?” Alpha Dan’s eyes go wide with anger and surprise. “You’re gonna get us both killed!”Alpha Dan tries to pull out of Paragon’s grip, but she’
Ainsley’s POV“I have to do what’s best for the pack, Ainsley.” Alpha Lucas paces in front of his desk. “I don’t trust this Gavin kid or his friends to come to the Mating Gathering. There’s too much at risk.”I sit in the chair, silently twisting my fingers together. Alpha Dan is banning my friends from being on Emerald Canyon pack territory if Gavin isn’t allowed to come to the Mating Gathering? What bullshit.I know better than to go back to Rambling Hills after everything that’s happened. My friends won’t come here and risk Alpha Dan finding out they defied him. I might never see my friends again.I look at Grandpa, waiting for him to stand up for me. He’s just sitting there with one arm crossed over his body. He’s using it to rest his elbow so his hand can rub the scruff on his chin. Grandma is beside me. She’s watching Alpha Lucas, but she’s rubbing my back sympathetically. On the other side of me, Mom and Luna Eva are focused on him too.None of them seem like they’re interested
“Ainsley, wh-what are you doing here?” Charlotte runs to the side of the bed and tries to crush me in a hug, but Caleb puts his hand out to stop her.“No, Sunshine!” He says quickly. “If you hug her, it’s gonna hurt both of us.”“But, Cal I just wanna-” She drops her arms and scrunches her nose. “W
Ainsley’s POV“You want me to let you shine the light from your phone in my eyes?” Caleb frowns and looks at me like he’s concerned I might be crazy. “That’s stupid, Ainsley.”“Cal, please. I just need to see if it looks the same as what it looks like when they shine a light into my eyes.” I whispe
Adrenaline surges through my body, making my heart pound so hard I can feel it in my ears. I set my shoulders to brace myself. I’m going to need to pull hard to miss the wolf. If I don’t miss it, the impact might be enough to kill both of us. Before I get close enough to swerve, ANOTHER wolf rushe
Riley’s POV“DAD!” I throw the front door open. He’s sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee and looking at his laptop. There are piles of receipts and invoices around him. He takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes.“What is it, Riley? I’m working on next week’s schedule. I hired ten kid







